Ocean Vacuum Cleaner

The Problem

Currently there is a large mass of plastic suspended in the water column in the North Pacific know as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This mass is so large some researchers estimate it at roughly twice the size of the continental United States. Obviously this large debris field has several impacts on the wild life as it end up in the stomach of birds, turtles, and many species of fish. To compound the problem, many of these fish are consumed by humans which result in the ingestion of toxic chemicals.

Potential Solution

Inventor Boyan Slat has introduced the idea of the Ocean Cleanup Array which could lead to a solution which previously many researchers have said could likely never be completed. His idea is to use this Array of floating booms that would work with the natural ocean currents to pass the plastic debris into a collection station. Estimates have shown that this system could remove more than 7 million tons of plastics from the oceans.

Learn More

Obviously this is a very interesting idea and it is being looked at very closely. Please watch the quick video below of the TEDx Talk.